When should my child receive their sacraments?

In the diocese of Portland, children who have already been baptized typically make their First Confession, and receive First Communion and Confirmation at the age of seven. This means preparation begins in first grade so that your child receives their sacraments in second grade.

What if we're past second grade?

The sacramental preparation program we use is appropriate for children in elementary school. If your child is in need of First Communion or Confirmation and is older than fifth grade, please see our Teen Sacraments page.
 

• If your child is under seven and needs Baptism, please see our Infant Baptism page.
• If your child is over seven and is in need of Baptism, please contact us at [email protected].
• If you are an adult and have not yet received your sacraments, please contact us so we can make arrangements: [email protected].

First Grade – one year in FIRE (prerequisite)

Preparation for reception of the sacraments typically begins in the first grade by doing one year in our FIRE program (Families in Religious Education.) One year in first to fifth grade level FIRE is a prerequisite before beginning Sacramental Prep classes. FIRE meets every first Sunday of the month at Holy Martyrs Church in Falmouth, beginning with 8:30 AM Mass, with classes ending by 11:30 AM. Parents or guardians are asked to attend. During the first year, we encourage families to practice learning the Ten Commandments in anticipation of their First Confession.

Register for FIRE here!

On the first day of class, please bring the following forms:

• Complete the Sacrament Information Form
• Bring a copy of your child's Baptism certificate. These can be obtained by calling the parish at which your child was baptized.
• If your child was baptized in the Parish of the Holy Eucharist, please email Kim Lovett at [email protected] with the name of your child and the approximate date he/she was baptized.

2nd Grade – Sacramental Prep Class

Having completed a year of FIRE, children move on to a year of Sacramental Preparation classes. This is typically done during second grade. Children meet weekly at Sacred Heart church, either on Sunday mornings from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM or on Tuesday afternoons from 4 PM to 5:15 PM. Sacramental Preparation does not take place during weeks when FIRE happens so that families with children in FIRE can make both. Please see the Sacramental Prep calendar below for dates.

Register for Sacramental Prep here.

What work is my child responsible for completing?

We use Sophia Press' Spirit of Truth First Reconciliation/First Communion textbook. Children will work through those activities during class. Should a child have to miss a class, they can make it up on the other night. Otherwise, they will need to complete the missed work and turn it in to their catechist at the next class. All work must be completed prior to receiving their sacraments.

Please note that the sacramental prep retreat takes place at Sacred Heart church from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM, typically on the second Saturday of March. Please make every effort to attend.

When do the sacraments take place?

Children will make their First Confession in January during their sacramental prep year. Families sign up for one of three Saturday afternoon Confession times, each at a different church. Catechists meet with the children at 2:15 PM prior to their First Confession to review how to go to Confession. At 2:30 PM, the priest will begin hearing the children’s Confessions. First Confessions are typically done by 3 PM. We encourage families to make a regular habit of going to Confession after the First Confession. Monthly Confession is ideal. Children will need to go to Confession again prior to their First Communion.

First Communion and Confirmation take place during the same Mass in this diocese. Because the Bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation, the date of the First Communion/Confirmation Mass is determined by the bishop’s office. The Mass will take place in the spring, sometime after Easter. We typically receive the date in February and will alert families as soon as we hear.

Confirmation Names and Confirmation Sponsors

Children at Parish of the Holy Eucharist will be asked to consider the name of a saint that they will take at their Confirmation. We encourage you to begin talking with your children about saints or reading stories about saints so they know some saints they can choose from. For guidance on where to begin, see this article on Choosing a Confirmation Saint.

The children will also need to choose Confirmation sponsors. The job of the Confirmation sponsor is to encourage them in the practice of their faith going forward after their Confirmation. A sponsor should be a practicing Catholic who will be a good example of a Catholic life to your child. Once a sponsor is chosen, please have them fill out and submit the Confirmation Sponsor Declaration Form.

Sponsors and Confirmation names should be chosen by the time of the Sacramental Prep Retreat.

Parent Involvement

Parents are asked to be involved in the sacramental prep process. FIRE is designed to involve the whole family. Parents will sit with their children during the large group portion of the class and will have their own session while the children go to their individual classes. Siblings of all ages are also invited to FIRE.

During the sacramental prep year, parents will meet with the Director of Faith Formation five times:

• During the first class to go over what the year will look like.
• During December to discuss Confession.
• In February to discuss First Communion.
• In March to discuss Confirmation.
• At the last class to talk about steps moving forward.

Please be sure to take your children to Mass every Sunday and to keep up with their religious education even after they have received their sacraments. Help your child learn her/his prayers, concepts, and the Ten Commandments. Pray often with your child. Read Bible stories to your child. Share your own stories of faith. Share your own time-honored Catholic traditions or begin new ones.